Leading up to the extended Thanksgiving weekend, the NYC Ferry team attended many community events, to allow for local communities receiving ferry service in 2017 to ask questions and receive information about the coming service, routes and its impact on their community. With many events, we are sharing some highlights from the two past weeks.
Neighbors Allied for Good Growth Gala
November 16th, 2016
Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (formerly Neighbors Against Garbage) developed out of the neighborhood’s desire to recapture its waterfront, reduce local environmental hazards, and advocate for public policies promoting healthy mixed-use communities. The group advocates with and for the people who live and work in North Brooklyn neighborhoods, such as Greenpoint and Williamsburg, allowing for an open discussion about serious issues in these neighborhoods, while opening the floor for locals to share their opinions and solutions to these topics.
The annual gala honored Marty Needelman, Co-Executive Director & Chief Counsel of Brooklyn Legal Services Corp A, for his commitment to tenant advocacy work; Lisa Bloodgood, former Environmental Advisor and Community Liaison at NYC Council; Stephen Levin’s Office, for her dedication to environmental improvements; NY Waterway’s East River Ferry, for their community service in increasing transportation access.
The gala is hosted for locals to enjoy a fun celebration local heroes, this year with a special remembrance of Alyssa Abeyta, a co-founder of BABAR. In attendance was Council Member Antonion Reynoso, Assembly Member Joseph Lentol, Council Member Stephen Levin, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
Community Board 14 Meeting
Knights of Columbus on Beach 90th St
November 22nd, 2016
Justine Johnson and James Wong from NYCEDC joined NYC Ferry’s Vice President and General Manager, Cameron Clark, and Director of Community Development & Guest Services, Franny Citvitano, to this Community Board 14 Meeting. The team brought a model of the NYC Ferry vessel to show the attendees, after presenting about the coming service, including information about fares, shuttle busses, vessel and barge construction.
Questions from Community Board 14 members and visiting attendees, mainly focused on the future shuttle bus stops, which NYCEDC discussed, is believed to be an on-going conversation as a result of the initial plan’s changes due to community input. The Community Board is a small, yet passionate group of community stakeholders, including Honorable Lew M. Simon, Assembly District Leader, 23rd A.D., Part B and newly elected Assembly Member Stacey Amato.
Broadway Association Luncheon
November 22nd, 2016
The Broadway Association, founded in 1911, is a not-for-profit business association devoted to the cultural and economic betterment of midtown west, which comprises the Broadway theater district. The lunch was set at Sardi’s, to celebrte 90 years on Broadway, for its members: property owners, major corporations, hotels, advertisers, unions, civic associations, theater companies, developers, banks, law firms, airlines and publishers.
The major conversation during the luncheon surrounded on housing expansion and making sure affordable housing is part of the neighborhood’s plan, economic development, current and future infrastructure projects, and how New York City might work with the new White House administration come 2017. The event’s featured speaker was Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development, Alicia Glenn, and the discussion was moderated by Sally Goldenberg from POLITICO.